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Senators keep health bill's Christmas Eve timeline on track

Senators cast the second of three procedural votes Tuesday morning to end debate on the Senate's health care reform bill, keeping alive their timeline of passing the reform on Christmas Eve Thursday. Senators voted 60-39 to accept the manager's amendment around 8 a.m. Tuesday, clearing the way for one remaining procedural vote Wednesday and a final vote on the legislation Thursday.

22 Dec 2009

How health reform might affect 'Young Invincibles'

ProPublica profiles a "young invincible" and reports on what a health care overhaul might mean for him.

22 Dec 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

'Twill be the night before Christmas when the Senate delivers the top item on White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's wish list: a health-care bill (William McGurn, 12/21).

22 Dec 2009

Difficult issues will remain even if Senate Democrats pass health bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., made two major changes to the Senate's version of the health overhaul legislation - removing the proposed "public option" and restricting abortion coverage - that have helped ease tension enough to secure more votes for the bill, but left advocates with much to complain about.

22 Dec 2009

Obama signs COBRA subsidy extension for laid-off workers

"President Barack Obama on Monday signed a measure to extend a federal subsidy for continued health-insurance coverage for involuntarily terminated workers under employer group plans," The Wall Street Journal reports.

22 Dec 2009

Obama praises Senate for clearing key health care hurdle

"President Barack Obama on Monday praised the Senate for clearing a key hurdle after midnight Sunday on the health care reform package, calling it a victory against 'special interests' that will reduce costs and the deficit," Roll Call reports.

22 Dec 2009

Lobbying set for a record year fueled in part by health care debate

USA Today: "As the health care bill moves toward a critical vote in the Senate, the five senators charged with overseeing the floor debate count health interests among their biggest campaign contributors, records show. The political action committees and employees of drugmakers Schering-Plough and Amgen have been the top two contributors in the past five years to Montana Sen. Max Baucus, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee and is one of three senators managing the bill for Democrats, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

22 Dec 2009

Political parties try to shape public opinion on health care

Politico: "Senate Democrats may not give final approval to their health care bill until Christmas Eve, but the parties have already moved on to the next fight: defining the measure in the minds of the public."

22 Dec 2009

Republicans blast Senate deal-making; contemplate delays

Republicans continue to critique the deal-making process to win over Senate votes for the health care overhaul.

22 Dec 2009

Big hospitals amass cash, criticism

Chicago Tribune: "If you listen to hospital lobbyists in Washington, the industry teeters on the brink of financial ruin, depending on how health care reform plays out. But the rhetoric does not match the balance sheets of some of Chicago's largest hospital operators.

22 Dec 2009

AMA backs latest Senate bill

Senate Democrats were bolstered Monday by the endorsement of the American Medical Association as they push for a final vote this week on their health overhaul legislation, Bloomberg reports. "The bill advances many of our priority issues for achieving the vision of a health system that works for patients and physicians," the AMA's president-elect, Dr. Cecil Wilson, said in endorsing the most recent version of the Senate bill, proposed over the weekend by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. (Salant and Donmoyer, 12/22).

22 Dec 2009

First Edition: December 22, 2009

The big news today follows two main themes -- the Senate's march toward Democrats' Christmas eve deadline for passing a health reform bill; and, the challenges that will be involved when the House and Senate versions of the overhaul are reconciled.

22 Dec 2009

Charitable donors commit longer-term pledges and gifts, despite recession

In a sign of what to expect in 2010, businesses and individuals hit hardest by the economy's slide have shifted charitable giving patterns to longer-term pledges and gift commitments rather than ceasing to give altogether, according to a study of benchmarking data and effective philanthropic fundraising techniques released today by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP).

22 Dec 2009

NRF expresses disappointment at the Senate’s early morning vote on health care reform legislation

The National Retail Federation expressed disappointment at the Senate’s early morning vote today on health care reform legislation, and said the vote would be included in its annual ranking of key issues important to the retail industry.

22 Dec 2009

iGuard registers 2 million subscribers in just over 2 years

iGuard, a drug safety system that monitors patient medications for drug interactions, safety alerts and recalls, today announced it has registered 2 million subscribers in just over 2 years - matching the early growth rate of the popular social networking tool Twitter.

22 Dec 2009

AARP applauds Senate for moving health care reform forward

The U.S. Senate this morning voted to move forward with health care reforms that will begin to bring needed relief to millions of Americans struggling with high costs and discriminatory insurance company practices.

22 Dec 2009

A properly managed metabolic detoxification program can benefit

“Detox” programs have been in the spotlight recently, with a bevy of Hollywood celebrities citing their “detox” programs as the secret to looking great on the red carpet. But, what exactly is detoxification? Is it merely the latest health and beauty fad, or is it a true health therapy? And can anyone besides the Hollywood elite benefit from it?

22 Dec 2009

ADHD Support Twitter page from Shire

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announced the launch of its newest online Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) resource, the ADHD Support Twitter(TM) page (http://twitter.com/adhdsupport), derived from the Shire award-winning online educational resource, ADHDSupport.com.

22 Dec 2009

New Medicare Advantage PPO plan launched by Clear One Health Plans

Clear One Health Plans, Inc. introduces its new Medicare Advantage PPO plan, the first plan to include both out-of-network coverage and in-network coverage in Central Oregon, Southern California, and Arizona.

22 Dec 2009

Seniors concerned over cost and coverage in 2010 Medicare enrollment plans

The 2010 annual enrollment period for individuals with Medicare plans ends Thursday, December 31. According to customer service specialists at Health Plan One, an online insurance brokerage and Medicare information portal, while seniors have been inquiring about plans' physician networks, changes to drug formularies, and plan eliminations and introductions in their states, the top three most discussed topics surround plan cancellations, premium increases and Medicare supplement alternatives.

22 Dec 2009